“Where would we be without salt?” – James Beard

Chocolate Love

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I know a lot of people who are sickened by Valentine’s day. They shrug it off as an attempt for the candy and card industry to make a few bucks. But for me, any excuse to eat chocolate and tell someone you love how much you love them and then to hear it in return (hopefully) is reason enough for me to enjoy this holiday.

Whether you love or hate V-day I know for a fact you will love to sip some chocolate. This sinfully rich dessert is heaven in a cup and can be made in under ten minutes. What’s not to love?

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Drinking Chocolate
six servings - if you are willing to share
8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped in 1/2 inch pieces – The best quality you can afford. My personal favorite is Valrhona Guanaja 70%, available from Trader Joe’s.
1 cup whole milk
1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 tsp fleur de sel (regular salt is fine in a pinch :) )
1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 cup heavy whipping cream for serving

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Place chocolate in a medium bowl.
Bring milk, cream and salt to a slow boil. Watch this closely as it can scald and boil over very quickly. Add the milk and cream to the chocolate. Let sit for 1-2 minutes. Add the cinnamon. Whisk the chocolate mixture until completely combined. The resulting liquid should be smooth, creamy and about the thickness of full fat cream. If for some reason the mixture doesn’t come together through it into a blender or food process and blend until completely smooth.

Serve with lightly whipped cream.

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In all my years of consuming all things sweet this dessert continues to be number one on my list. This sophisticated dessert can be thrown together in minutes and makes a perfect treat for this time of the year. You can also add to it to make it your own. One of my personal favorite additions is cayenne and cinnamon, giving this chocolate treat a spicy kick the way it was intended to be consumed. I would also encourage you to try peppermint, vanilla and coffee.

(I’m in love with my new Terra Keramik Teapot.)

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12 Comments

  1. Posted February 5, 2009 at 1:39 am | Permalink

    Mmm. This looks divine. I’m willing to share…I guess. I’m loving your blog, by the way. Great recipes and gorgeous pics.

  2. Posted February 5, 2009 at 10:38 pm | Permalink

    you are killing me with those photos!

  3. Posted February 6, 2009 at 1:01 am | Permalink

    I want to slurp the whip cream off of that RIGHT NOW. Oops, am I licking my screen?!

  4. Posted February 6, 2009 at 1:13 am | Permalink

    Gorgeous photos! Yummy!

  5. Posted February 6, 2009 at 1:15 am | Permalink

    yep, I am one of those not-that-into-Valentine’s Day, but you make it so tempting to cross over……..

    cheers!

    *heather*

  6. Posted February 6, 2009 at 7:13 am | Permalink

    your tea cups are divine!

  7. Posted February 8, 2009 at 9:20 am | Permalink

    I am in love with your tea pot and cups as well…too bad I am on a spending freeze. The hot chocolate looks insanely good.

  8. Posted February 10, 2009 at 2:07 am | Permalink

    Okay, so… I just ate a carrot stick for dessert. Seriously. When this is staring me in the face, there’s no excuse for a decision like that. Chocolate shame on me.

  9. Posted February 14, 2009 at 12:41 pm | Permalink

    just *yummi yummi yummi yumi*!!!

  10. Posted February 15, 2009 at 2:58 am | Permalink

    love the pictures!

  11. Posted February 16, 2009 at 3:31 am | Permalink

    I’m in love with your cups also, Ashley. They’re beautiful as are the photos! I am printing off this hot chocolate recipe. I can’t resist anything chocolate with fleur de sel thrown in!

  12. Posted February 24, 2009 at 10:13 pm | Permalink

    I went to Trader Joes today and they didn’t have Valrhona Guanaja 70%. They did have Valrhona 71% Noir Amer Bittersweet Chocolate.

    http://www.worldwidechocolate.com/shop_valrhona_70pct_lenoir.html

    I don’t know much about chocolate, and was wondering if this would work?

    Thanks!

2 Trackbacks

  1. By Easy stove top cooking? « A Day in the (Fat) Life on February 21, 2009 at 8:03 am

    [...] of food, tonight I made this awesome hot chocolate recipe.  I made a half a batch, as it was only for my husband and me, and used Ghiridelli 60% bittersweet [...]

  2. By ‘Tis the Season! « The Chaos is Ongoing on December 27, 2009 at 6:39 pm

    [...] who knows!  And then maybe I’ll get those handmade marshmallows made along with some drinking chocolate.  [I can't wait to try this [...]

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